OCD Awareness Week: “The earlier you intervene, the less it develops”

16 Oct 24

Are you noticing persistent, unwanted thoughts or repetitive behaviours that seem hard to control, such as repeatedly checking, cleaning, or seeking reassurance? Do these actions or thoughts cause anxiety, take up a lot of time, or interfere with your daily life? Perhaps you find yourself overly focused on perfection, avoiding situations that cause fear, or feeling drained by the mental effort of managing these patterns?

OCD written on wooden blocks with an orange background

While occasional intrusive thoughts and habits are normal, when they become overwhelming and distressing, it may be time to consult a professional to explore whether Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a factor.

OCD is a common, mental health disorder. People with OCD experience recurrent, distressing, intrusive thoughts, often related to the concern that potential harms will happen to themselves or others, and feel compelled to perform unnecessary repetitive, time-consuming behaviours, such as checking or washing, to reduce the unpleasant feelings associated with the intrusive thoughts. If left untreated, the condition can spiral out of control and leave the individual and their loved ones feeling exhausted and struggling to cope.

A combination of medical and psychological interventions are usually the best approach. HPFT provides a range of services. If you have concerns that you or someone you know are displaying signs of OCD, it is important that you see your GP and they can advise on the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Professor Naomi Fineberg, HPFT Consultant Psychiatrist and Dr Davis Mpavaenda, HPFT Consultant Cognitive Behaviour and Neuroscience Psychotherapist, and National Highly Specialised OCD/BDD Service Leads, said:

“OCD is often a secretive illness, yet 2% of the population have OCD and 20% have some kind of symptoms. We always encourage people to see their GP at the earliest opportunity because the earlier you intervene, the less likely it is to develop into a major problem. For those who become unwell with OCD, the right treatment can make a huge difference. Personally, we find OCD one of the most rewarding illnesses to treat.”

Here are some other sources of information which may be useful:

www.ocdyouth.info An informative website aimed at young people.

www.orchardocd.org A charity working to progress new and better treatments for patients suffering from OCD, including a registry for those wishing to participate in research.

www.ocdaction.org.uk A UK consumer charity offering wide ranging information and support for patients, families and friends.

www.ocfoundation.org A wide ranging website with lots of useful information.

www.rcpsych.ac.uk The Royal College of Psychiatrists are a professional medical body responsible for supporting psychiatrists throughout their careers. It contains information on improving the lives of people with mental illness.

Comprehensive Psychiatry | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier New papers on research into OCD can be found in the Comprehensive Psychiatry journal which is edited by Professor Naomi Fineberg. The ‘X’ profile is @ComprPsychiatry

Related Pages

OCD Awareness Week: “The earlier you intervene, the less it develops”